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India's 6th Astronomical Observatory and Eastern India's First Inaugurated in West Bengal.

National | Dated: 20 Jan 2025

In January 2025, the Satyendra Nath Bose Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBCBS), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T), inaugurated India's sixth and Eastern India's first astronomical observatory in the Garpanchkot Hills of Purulia district, West Bengal (WB).

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - The observatory has been named after the renowned scientist Satyendra Nath Bose.
  • - The other five observatories are located in Ladakh, Nainital (Uttarakhand), Mount Abu (Rajasthan), Girawali Hills (Pune, Maharashtra), and Kavalur (Tamil Nadu, TN).
  • - Vishvajit Sahay, Additional Secretary of the Union Science and Technology Department, along with other dignitaries, were present at the inauguration event.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) The observatory is equipped with two telescopes, including a 14-inch diameter telescope, and a 1-meter diameter telescope is set to be installed soon. Its seeing value of 1.3 arc seconds meets the standards of the other five astronomical centers across the country.
  • (ii) Located 600 meters above sea level in a pollution-free area, the observatory's best observation period is from November to April. An automatic weather forecasting center has also been established on the hilltop to measure rainfall, temperature, and wind speed.
  • (iii) SNBCBS has partnered with Sidhu Kanu Birsa University in WB for the observatory's operations and resource sharing.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Where was India's 6th astronomical observatory and Eastern India's first inaugurated in January 2025?

Correct Answer: West Bengal

🚀 Quick Recap: